New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-20
SUNDAY EDITION.
NOV. go, 1887.
THE REV. MIR. BERRY AT HOME
A CHuRCHMAN ON BEEcHERs SUCCESSOR.

"A LIVING, EARNEST NERVOUS, SYMPATHETIC
MAN" WITH NO SUGGESTION OF PIrEsTIINEss.
The call OF the Rev. Mr.. Berry, of England to suoe
coed Mr.. Bcechcr In Plymouth Church. lends interest
to an English opinion Of Mr. Berry, which Church
Of England correspondent has contributed to Wovers
hampton paper, The Midland Counties Express,
al attended Queen Street Congregational Chapels
he bcglns-"I beg pardon, Church should have said
on tho Sunday evening preceding the pastors dos
parturc for America to occupy, ard feel to
cupy most ~orthily, what may call the conspicuous
pulpit OF Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, long
ciaed-and forever in the minds of men so nseparably
associated-with the honored name of Henry Ward
Beecher'
After describing tho church building and the con.
grcgation, who seemed we'll cared for, so we'll
provsioned, we'll dressed, In such good health and
spirs,' that lie thinks {" they would have been Of.
Tended If they had been asked publicly to confess that
they miserable Sinners and would have cx-
claimed very truthfuy that they wcro not miserable
at all' after commenting tho Absence I'm their
customcd back seats OF tho parish poor whose pres.
cncc, five hundred wan faces and wistul eyes scat
tered all over the place finding isolated accommO-
dalton In hooks and corners he regards as necessary
to perfect and typical cOngrcgaon-he comes to the
preacher. His comments Mr. Berry, from tho
churchman's point Of view, go far to confirm the truth
Of tho Rev. Mr.. Haday's remark: "You wondn't
have known him for an EnglIshman II you had not
been tod,' and explains why 1t Is that Mr.. Berry
ceeds so well, In travelling, In going ncoy, fan
his clerical character Is conccrned-a device ho
adopts, without deception, however, In order to ap'
proach bis fellow-mcn on their own level
LIKE AN ORDINARY MAN.
The CORES pondent says: AS to the personal ap,
and characteristics Of the reverend ccncmsns
find It difficult to say anything The reason Is boz
he Is 50 like ordinary If belonged
the Queen Street Congregation | should describS
minister 'one of u.s. Neither In his dress
in his mode of speaking nor In his mannersms, nor In
his conception OF his Office and its functions, in tho
mental attitude he presents to his congregation is tncra
anything suggestive of the pTcstly Office. We may
bring before our minds eye very many types Of tho
ecclesasc, but of them would be suggestive Of
Mr. Berry. He looks like man, and he does not look
like pars0n much less priest He speahs like
man; a living earnest nervous, sympathetic man.
who feels he has something say, and he speaks liza
a man who knows they living men and women to
whom he IS speaking"
1t has frequently been said since Mr Berry app
pcarcd in Plymouth Church, that everything definite
We hear about him satisfies US that he Is a man aBee
Mr. Becchers own hcart.' Certainly the description
quoted above might we'll have been written of Henry
Ward Beechcr 1t doubtless in part this absolute
freedom from pricstly ecclesasciSm this earnest,
nervous sympathetco manner, as well as tho accepta-
bic words he spoke, that led moro than one membec
IF Plymouth Church, before Mr.. Berry had finished
his first sernon-ln during his opening
prayer-to say to his neghbcr: "This is our lnanla
MAN or TODAY
The letter continues In hearing Mr. Berry you
struck with the fact that he belongs essentially and
exclusively to-day. His eyes, his ears, his heart,
they are all open what IS being said, and thought,
and felt and borne, and feared and hoped for, add
needed by those Of this generation. He therefore,
breaches not a gospel. but living gospel sos-
pei for to-day, gospel full OF endless adaptations, and
his message is shaped to urgent needs of living mon.
AS il preacher, Mr. Berry IS Singuary effective. Hd
breaches with his whole heart and strength prcach-
ing IS most probably to him, in limited sense, whaa
poetry was TO Colcrldgc' its own reward But that
reward largely added by the rapt attention Of hf
hearers. lie adhercs when preaching closely to biz
but nothing could be said more misleading
than TO affirm that he reads his sermons lie is
practsed elocutlonst. far his dependence upoE
his manuscript is concerned, lie has the which
ceals art Ills delivery is not Elected by his reading,
while By his reading he Is able TO present discourse
not merely full anost 10 repetition Of fire thoughts, DJ
thoughts conveyed In most stu hing language. Ra
SWEEPS along almost reSsieSsly and pearls Of utmost
y aIuc fell r. his lips I'm quick esslon.
The Sermon | heard was lealy, hopeful. inv,or
ting, and caicuafrdfO have an enormous and an abld
Ing influence, all seekers after truth ] left
rho service profoundly convinced that large cOntrf
button TO tho religious life Of WovcrhampOn and tho
district has its and Is spring tbs
queen street Congregafit nal Church.
II this chirt hMan'S Impressions OF Mr.. Berry
IL would seem though Plymouth Church, 10
adapted qualities, had made no mistake.